Hidden Extendable and Retractable Shower Hose System

ABSTRACT

A hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system. The system is made up of a housing that contains a system of pulleys, a hose and a counterweight. The hose is connected to a water supply on one end and a shower head on the other end and is threaded through the pulleys. At least one of the pulleys is attached to the counterweight, which moves upward with the attached pulley when the hose is extended outside of the housing, thereby applying a tension to the hose and assisting in the retraction of the hose. The invention also includes two openings designed to be connected to a fan system, which reduces the possibility of mold and other undesirable effects of moisture, as well as another opening that acts as a drain.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/115,949 filed on Feb. 13, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to retractable shower head systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system that is adapted to be mounted behind a wall and configured to assist in retracting the shower head when it is removed from the wall by means of a counterweight assembly attached to a pulley.

Showers equipped with an external and movable shower head offer the advantage of added flexibility and mobility when compared to a shower with a fixed shower head. The user can detach the shower head from a resting position and point the water flow in any direction. However, many such shower systems include an unsightly hose hanging between the shower head and wall connection point when not in use. This presents both an aesthetic problem and a safety issue. Many shower areas are enclosed with transparent glass panes that leave the inside of a shower visible. A dangling hose can spoil an otherwise minimalist and stylish bathroom design. Additionally, a loose hose can get in the way of a user during the actual showering process. Furthermore, such a hose can increase the risk of injury to those with access to the shower, such as young children playing in the surrounding area.

In order to address these issues, devices in the prior art disclose shower hoses that are retractable. These devices fail to disclose a retractable shower hose system that uses a weighted pulley to assist in retracting the shower head into a housing and that can be placed and hidden behind a wall. These devices also fail to provide an air drying and drainage system to ensure that the housing is free of mold-inducing moisture between uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shower hose systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system wherein the same can be installed behind a wall and provides a hose that uses a counterweight attached to a pulley to assist in retracting the hose back within the housing.

The present invention comprises a housing that contains a system of pulleys, a hose, and a counterweight. The hose is threaded through the pulleys and is adapted to be connected to a water supply on one end and a shower head on the other end. At least one of the pulleys is attached to the counterweight. The counterweight moves upward with the attached pulley when the hose is extended exterior to the housing. The counterweight applies a downward force on the pulley. The force which is applied is configured to counterbalance the shower head assembly, such that the hose remains in the extended position when released by a user. Additionally, the force is sufficient to assist in retracting the shower hose back into the housing when the user is finished with the hose.

The invention also includes two ventilation openings designed to be connected to a fan and exhaust system and an outlet opening designed to drain excess water. When air passes from one ventilation opening to the other ventilation opening, the inside of the housing is dried of moisture, which reduces the possibility of mold and other undesirable effects of moisture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one end of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the front side of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the back side of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. The invention comprises a housing 10 with an interior, a number of pulleys 11 that are mounted inside of the interior, a hose 13 that is routed through the interior over the pulleys 11, and a counterweight 14 attached to an unmounted pulley 12. In one embodiment of the invention, the hose 13 has a first end that is adapted to connect to a shower head and a second end adapted to connect to a water supply source. The hose 13 is routed from the exterior of the housing to the interior, around two fixed pulleys 11, then around an unmounted pulley 12 that is attached to a counterweight 14, and then affixed to an unmovable connector 17 that is adapted to connect to a water source. When the first end of the hose 13 is extended outside of the housing, the pulley 12 attached to the counterweight 14 is raised due to the shortening of the length of the hose 13 that is within the housing 10. The weight of the pulley 12 and counterweight 14 apply a downward force on the hose 13 sufficient to hold the hose 13 and shower head in place when extended and released by a user. The counterweight 14 additionally supplies sufficient force to assist the user in retracting the shower head assembly when the user applies a slight upward force to the shower head.

A further embodiment of the intervention consists of a housing having a longer side and shorter side. The shorter side extends perpendicular from an end of the longer side. The second end of the hose can be connected to a water faucet while the first end of the hose can exit the housing along a vertical straight line above the faucet. Such a configuration allows the housing to be installed behind a wall in such a way as to allow a shower head to be placed at a point in the wall directly above the controlling water faucet.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing contains three addition openings, a first opening 15 adapted to be attached to a source of forced air, a second opening 18 adapted to be attached to an exhaust duct, and a third opening 19 placed on the bottom of the housing configured to function as a drain for any water that enters the housing 10. The first opening 15 can be attached to a fan, such as a fan commonly found in a bathroom. The forced air dries out the interior of the housing, preventing mold or mildew from forming. Furthermore, the bottom of the housing is slanted 16 toward the third opening 19 in order to assist in draining moisture from the housing 10.

Another embodiment of the invention includes one or more brackets 23 that are attached to the housing 10. These brackets 23 are adapted to mount the housing behind a wall. For example, the housing 10 can be designed with dimensions that fit in between two wall studs, where the brackets are secured to the studs by means of a fastening device such as a nail or a screw. In an additional embodiment of the invention, one of the brackets 23 is adjustable via a sliding mechanism, such that the width between two of the brackets can be reduced or expanded to be made to fit precisely in between two wall studs.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of one end of an embodiment of the invention. There are two pairs of wheels attached to the counterweight 14. The first pair of wheels 26 is positioned to run along the side walls of the housing 10, and the second pair of wheels 27 is positioned to run along the front and back walls of the housing. These wheels allow the counterweight 14 to move smoothly up and down the interior of the housing. Additionally, these wheels can be made of rubber to reduce noise and minimize wear, both on the housing 10 and on the counterweight 14.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective front view of an embodiment of the invention from another angle. A shower head 21 is connected to the invention by means of an adapter 20 that is configure to attach the first end of the hose 13 to the shower head 21.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment of the present invention, the housing 10 further includes a collar 47 and a shower head handle 29. The collar extends from the opening on the housing through which the first end of the hose extends. The collar 47 has an interior diameter to a close tolerance of the diameter of the shower head handle 29, thereby allowing the shower head handle 29 to slide upward into the housing through the collar 47. The collar 47 is configured to hold the shower head handle 29 in place when the hose is fully returned into the housing. This allows a user to use the shower head 21 hands-free as a conventional shower assembly would permit.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective back view of an embodiment of the invention. The back side of the housing is made up of a first element 52 and a second element 51. The first element 52 is rectangular-shaped and covers the bottom part of the housing 10. The second element 51 is shaped to cover the remaining top part of the housing. Additionally, the second element 51 is positioned such that when it is removed, a user is provided with easy access to the pulleys and counterweight for maintenance purposes. The fixed pulleys are located directly adjacent to the second element 51, and the pulley that is attached to the counterweight can be accessed by extending the hose fully from the housing.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system, comprising: a housing; a first pulley disposed within an interior of the housing and fixed thereto; a second pulley disposed within an interior of the housing; a hose threaded through the first pulley and the second pulley, the hose comprising a first end connectable to a shower head and a second end connectable to a water source; a counterweight mounted to the second pulley and configured to assist in retracting the hose into the housing when the hose is withdrawn from the housing. 2) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 1, wherein: the housing is configured in an L-shape with a longer side and a shorter side; the shorter side is placed perpendicularly to an end of the longer side, such that the first end of the hose extends from the shorter side. 3) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a front wall and side walls and the counterweight further comprises: a pair of wheels that run along to the front wall; a pair of wheels that run along to the side wall. 4) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a front wall, two side walls, and a removable back wall, the removable back wall comprising: a first part that aligns with a first portion of the longer side of the housing; a second part that aligns with a second portion of the longer side of the housing and the entirety of the shorter side of the housing. 5) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 1, further comprising: a first opening adapted to connect to an external fan; a second opening adapted to connect to an exhaust vent. 6) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 1, further comprising a drain opening disposed on a bottom surface of the housing. 7) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a mounting bracket disposed on the exterior of the housing. 8) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 7, wherein the position of the mounting bracket is configured to be adjustable. 9) The hidden extendable and retractable shower hose system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a collar extending from the housing, the collar adapted to support a shower head. 